“The inclusion of exemptions came as a surprise, being introduced very late in the day by government.
(…) In addition, work specifically permitted for historic buildings includes replacing lost elements such as windows where these are important in maintaining the building’s character.”

“10. Because the greenest building is one that is already built.”
10. Mert a legzöldebb (környezetbarát) épület az ami már megépült.

In the words of Richard Moe, President of the National Trust for Historic Preservation
“We can’t build our way out of the global warming crisis. We have to conserve our way out. That means we have to make better, wiser use of what we have already built.” Repairs and restoration work are done by local craftspeople paying local taxes. The use a minimum of materials and resources and a maximum of labor. Restoring windows is the best use of existing materials and the best way to support the local economy.”

“… homeowner’s think they need to replace their windows is that the window industry spends tens of millions of dollars a year to convince homeowners to buy their inferior products. (…) If retrofitting energy efficient glass into an old sash is something you feel must be done. ”

“… Life cycle assessment studies conducted in the U.K. and Norway indicate that, over a building’s life cycle, the overall environmental impact of retrofitting existing windows may be smaller than those associated with the manufacturing of new windows.

Replacement windows typically fail 10-20 years after installation, and usually after the warranty period has ended. Once replacement windows fail, they cannot be repaired and typically end up in already overcrowded landfills. New windows are then required, and the wasteful cycle of disposal and replacement continues. Unlike the vast majority of replacement windows, components of historic windows can be repaired, thus extending the life cycle of the entire window unit. Furthermore, historic windows are generally constructed of old growth wood, which is far more durable than modern wood from new growth sources. [5] …”

“The style of windows and pattern of openings in a building is one of the single most important elements in defining its character and the date of construction. Retaining and celebrating authenticity applies to windows, too. Replacement windows, no matter how accurate, never reflect the nuances of the original.”

Window Know-How – A Guide to Going Green
Helping people protect, enhance and enjoy the places that matter to them.
“Older is Better: Old windows were fabricated from old wood. It’s generally denser and lasts longer than the new wood used for modern windows.”

“Historic window systems are usually built with good attention to detail (such as weather shedding) and with good quality materials (such as old-growth timber). Problems related to wear over time – peeling paint, broken glass and missing putty – can look unsightly but are easily put right.
Residential wood windows can be in service for 100 years before requiring a major retrofit to remain in service for a second 100 years. Similarly, it is not unusual for modern windows to experience major, non-repairable failures to sealed units, vinyl welds, caulk joints and wood joints within 10 to 25 years. Today, most sealed units carry warranties of only 8 to 10 years. (…) In the name of energy efficiency and environmental responsibility, replacement window manufactures are convincing people to replace their historic wood windows. The result is the rapid erosion of the building’s caracter, the wast of historic resource, and a potential net loss in energy conservation.”

“Replacement windows have been marketed as energy efficient, and therefore environmentally friendly, and economical, by saving the homeowner money over the lifespan of the window. In reality, properly repaired wood windows can be equally energy efficient, are more environmentally friendly, are a better financial investment”

“… Assuming that the maximum potential of PVC recycling is achieved, incineration of PVC waste would still increase more than fourfold to 2.2-2.5 million tonnes in 2020. Current recycling rates are at less than 3%. (…) Almost all PVC wastes contain hazardous additives.”

“Toxicity. The feedstocks, additives, and by-products produced and released during the lifecycle of PVC have been shown to cause a range of health hazards, in some cases at extremely low doses, including:

Cancer

Disruption of the endocrine system

Reproductive impairment

Impaired child development and birth defects

Neurotoxicity (damage to the brain or its function), and

Immune system suppression.

Dioxins. Among the most important by-products of the PVC lifecycle are dioxin (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin) and a large group of structurally and toxicologically related compounds, collectively called dioxins or dioxin-like compounds.”

“Building Materials Metal stabilizers are highly toxic. Lead is an exquisitely potent developmental toxicant, damaging brain development and reducing he cognitive ability and IQ of children in infinitessimal doses. Cadmium is a potent neurotoxin and carcinogen, and organotins can suppress immunity and disrupt the endocrine system. ”

(…) PVC products can release heavy metals into the building environment. Metal stabilizers, particularly lead, cadmium, and organotins, can be released from vinyl products. Significant quantities of lead have been found to be released from vinyl window blinds into air and from PVC pipes into water. Toxicological effects of these substances include neurological, development, and reproductive damage.

(…) In the European Union, 60 percent of vinyl is used in building and construction applications, with an additional 25 percent in appliances, electronics, and furniture.

(…) The PVC lifecycle begins with the production of chlorine gas in the chlor-alkali process.

(…) But recent data indicate that even the most modern chlor-alkali plants produce dioxin-like compounds.

(…) Dioxin is a known human carcinogen and has been linked to reproductive disorders, immune suppression, and endometriosis, and other diseases in laboratory animals.”

“The PVC lifecycle presents one opportunity after another for the formation and environmental discharge of organochlorines and other hazardous substances. When its entire lifecycle is considered, it becomes apparent that this seemingly innocuous plastic is one of the most environmentally hazardous consumer materials produced, creating large quantities of persistent, toxic organochlorines and releasing them into the indoor and outdoor environments. PVC has contributed a significant portion of the world’s burden of persistent organic pollutants and endocrine-disrupting chemicals – including dioxins and phthalates – that are now present universally in the environment and the bodies of the human population.”

“Vinyl is all around us, but no other plastic poses such direct environmental and human health risks. All the most essential information about the hazards of vinyl have been culled from the web and placed in this one site.”